Chairman of the
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn called for changing the system of formation of the
Constitutional Court of Ukraine. The
Head of the Parliament made this statement, speaking at the conference
"Protection of Human Rights by the Bodies of Constitutional Justice:
Possibilities and Issues of Individual Access."
V.Lytvyn stressed that the Constitutional Court of Ukraine keeps attention of the public from the President to the ordinary citizens fixed. Its resolutions are sought-after, so such attitude makes the judges even more responsible.
The Head of the Parliament singled out the pressing issues. "It is necessary to think over how to change the system of electing the judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine," he believes. According to V.Lytvyn, election of the court on an equal basis by three political components of the authorities was justified and democratic on the initial stage of state building. "However, every political force is obviously trying to gain possession of it," he stated, presuming that "such attempts will continue."
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine suggested the following way of electing the judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine: "Judicial community (scholars, judges, lecturers, law-enforcement officers and others) set up a committee to select the best experts on law who could work in the Constitutional Court. Then the executive and judicial branches of power reject the underqualified, and make up a list to be ratified by the President of Ukraine. The latter sends the final draft (not less than 25 persons) to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that selects 18 most competent candidates from this list. Such elections will not let any branch of power declare that some judge is its representatives or, even worse, influence the judges after elections or claim that the court is biased."
V.Lytvyn
recommends raising the status of the judge of the Constitutional Court, and
enabling the judges to work longer. "I call for increasing the retirement age
for the judges of the Constitutional Court who acquired a unique experience and
expertise in constitutional justice," V.Lytvyn stated.
As to the scope of competence of the Constitutional Court, the Head of the Parliament said, "I would rather it concerned not only assessment of conformity of legislative acts to the Constitution of Ukraine and constitutional control, but also guarantees and protection of human rights and liberties, and development of standards fixed in the Constitution of Ukraine."
"Constantly improving and overcoming the obstacles, the Constitutional Court has confidently acquired the status of an independent and influential superior judge who found its authoritative place in the system of public authorities, and plays a key role in the development of a legal state," V.Lytvyn summed up.